Device for spring-actuated shades.



um 705,03l. Patented my 22, m12;

E. T. BuowEs.

DEVICE FUR SPRING ACTUTED SHADES.

(Application filed Mar, 22, 1898.)

(Ilo Model.)

*mi NoRnls PETERS co.. Puoraumm wm-uwsmu, D. c

UNITED STATES I Prion.

EDWARD T. BURROVES, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO THE-CURTAIN SUPPLYCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

DEVICE FOR SPRING- SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters :Fatent No.705,031, dated July 22, 1902. Application filed March 22, 1898. SerialNo. 674,817. (No model.)

T0 (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD T. BURRowEs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices forSpring-Actuated Shades; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en- Ioable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to an improvement in holding devicesforspring-actuated shades; and it is embodied in the construction and t5arrangement of parts hereinafter described,

and defined in the claims.

` Generally speaking', the invention is animprovement on that type orclass of devices for holding a spring-actuated shade at difao ferentpoints of adjustmentagainst the tendency of the spring of theshade-roller to wind the shade up. Devices of this character haveusually been formed with springpressed friction shoes or tips attachedto or carried by a stick, usually applied to the curtain or shade at thelower margin thereof, the spring or springs which are used in connectionwith the tips serving to set the same against the jainb of thewindow-frame with sufficient 3o friction to overcome the constanttendency of the shade-roller spring to wind up the shade. Heretofore astyle or patternof shoe or tip has been suggested `which is somewhatelongated, the friction-tip being pivotally secured in the shoe, so thatthe same will tilt should the curtain-stick be thrown out ofhorizontalism, This form of fixture has been found to be successful inuse. There are, however, objections to an independent mov- 4o ablefriction tip or surface, owing primarily to the fact that the same is aloose member and under certain conditions will rattle, and, further, a`pivotal friction-surface requires special and accurate adjustment orfitting to the shoe carryingthe same.

The above styile of fixture is generally known as the self-rightingfixture, and of that type there is the pivotal-tip fixture and the fixedor stationary tip fixture. The latter form requires a relatively largefrictionso surface, and it has been found that the antifriction-rol'lerswhich are at the ends of the shoes will not be brought into playpromptly, but only after the stick has been considerably tilted.

The object of the present invention is to overcome objections which maybe urged against the pivotal and fixed tip forms; and it may be statedas consisting generally in a shoe having a friction-surface of rocker or6o inclined formation in combination with setting-springs.

The invention further consists in a construction of fixture whereby thefriction setting mechanism is adapted for adjustment to the outer endsof the hollow curtain-stick.

The invention further consists in features of construction presently tobe described.

In the drawings I have shown the invention in a convenient and operativeform, but 7o desire it understood that the same is not limited to theconstruction therein delineated.

Figure] is a side elevation of a windowframe, showing the shade placedtherein,

.which latter is provided with the improved fixture, portions of theframe being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevationthrough the shoe and a portion of the hollow stick. Fig. 3 illustrates amodified form of fixture, and Fig. 4c is an enlarged de- 8e tail sectionthrough the securing-sleeve, show ing the adjacent portions inelevation.

In the drawings, A represents the windowframe, and B the curtain, whichis mounted on the well-known springactuated roller, the 85 spring ofwhich, however, has a constant tendency to roll or draw the curtain up.In the lower margin of the curtain or shade is a tubular stick C, thesaine being secured, as is usual, in apocket formed on or in the shade.9e

In the preferred form of iixture I place the holding mechanism,presentlyto bedescribed, in the outer ends of the stick and without compressingor retracting instru me'ntalities. I desire it understood, however, thatthe in 95 vention is not limited to this particulanarrangement. Fixedlysecured in each end of the stick is what I term a csleeve D, the

same being rigidly secured Within the stick at points somewhat back fromthe ends and secured by any suitable means, conveniently by a screw dpassing through the wall of the stick into the sleeve, as shown in Fig.2. This sleeve has a channel or groove d cut longitudinallytherethrough. Loosely passing through the sleeve andextending beyond thesame in opposite directions is a rod E, the inner end of which has ashoulder c, formed thereon in any convenient manner, which is designedto abut against end of the sleeve. This rod is extended outwardly andhas sleeved thereon a spiral spring F, the inner end of which abuts thesleeve, while the outer -end rests against a washer or collar F',conveniently iixed on the rod. By this means the tendency of the springis to force the rod outward toward the end of the stick. To prevent therod turning in the sleeve, I form a projection or spline c' on the rod.This projection or spline is so placed on the rod that it will lie inthe channel formed in the sleeve, which is of a width less than that ofthe channel, so that it will not interfere with the reciprocatingmovement of the rod in the sleeve. The outer end of the rod E has athread e2 formed thereon, which takes into a threaded thimble G, looselyfitted into the end of the shade-stick.

On the outer end of the thimble G is an elongated shoe H, havingin itsopposite ends antifriction wheels or rollers h. Between the rollers theouter edge of the shoe is fashioned conveniently into the form of anelongated rocker H', the convexed surface of which is presentedoutwardly and extends from points adjacent to the rollers, its crown orcentral. portion being on a plane slightly beyond the plane of theperiphery of the rollers. This rocker-surface may be formed directly onthe surface of the edgeof the shoe proper, or the same may beconstructed of a separate piece and in any other convenient mannersecured within the shoe. In the form shown in Fig. 2 the shoe isconveniently a block having the rocker-shaped outer edge, the oppositeends being bifurcated to receive the rollers, while in the form shown inFig 3 at the left the shoe is hollow and the rocker-tip portion isIixedlyY secured within the same, conveniently by pins.

To adjustably secure the shoe to the thimble, I conveniently form acentral opening or chamber K in the shoe, 'as shown at the right in Fig.3,and locate therein the head of a screw 7c, the head being looselysecured within the chamber by placing back of thesame and within thechamber awasherc'. To permit the turning of the screw, a small openingis formed in the outer face of the rocker portion of the tip or shoe,the diameter of which is less than that of the head of the screw, andthrough this opening a suitable screw-driver or other instrument may bepassed for engaging the kerf in the head of the screw. The inner end ofthe screw 7c takes into a threaded opening in thev thimble G. By thismeans the shoe can easily and readily be adjusted in or out toaccommodate the fixture to varying Widths of frames. The adjustment bymeans of the screw 7c, I may state, is auxiliary to the adjustmentswhich may be secured through the screw connection between the thimbleand rod and'is designed more particularly to effect a small adjustmentwithout turning the entire shoe one half-revolution, as is the case whenthe adjustment is effected through the threaded connection between thethimble and rod.

By the construction above described it will be noticed thatthe frictionsetting mechanism is located wholly in the outer end of the stick, and Ihave found that in many cases it is not necessary to use retractingmeans for compressing the spring'to release the friction of the shoes ortips, but that owing to the lformation of the friction-surface thefixture can be slid up or down when pressure is applied to the stick toadjust the curtain, and this without compressing the springs. In thisconnection I would state that the material of which thefriction-surfaces are composed is conveniently metal.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slight modification, the chief feature of whichI have already referred to. This form, however, also comprises What iscommonly known as the pinchhandle feature of devices of this character,the handles in this particular instance being connected to the extendedinner ends of the rods E and project through suitable openings in thestick at ornear the center'. This arrangement is sometimes convenientshould the fixture be found to require an unusual amount of pressure orforce to slide the shoes up or down. v

The action of the elongated head with the autifriction-roll when thecurtain is in operation is as follows: Should the curtain-stick be movedup horizontally, the shoes will slide on the jamb and the friction willbe suiiicient to overcome the tendency of the spring ofthe shade-roller.Should the stick be tilted during operation, the movement will transferthe friction from the rocker-surface to the antifriction-rolls, thusallowing the spring of the shade-roller to act promptly in drawing theshade up, and when the hand of the operator is removed from the stickthe slight resistance offered by the antifriction-rollers will cause thespring of the shade-roller to readjust the stick to its properhorizontal position,retrans ferring the friction from the rollers to therocker-shaped tips, the friction being gradually increased by virtue ofthe curved friction face of the tips, thereby forming what mayconveniently be termed a Wedging action.

While I have shown and described special features of construction, Idesire it under-V stood that many changes in the same may be madeWithout departing from the nature and principle of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What IOO TIO

is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a holding-fixture for spring-actuated shades, the combination witha shade, of spring-pressed shoes carried thereby having elongatedrocker-shaped friction engaging surfaces, substantially as described.

2. In a holding-fixture for spring-actuated shades, the combination witha shade, of a hollow stick carried thereby and springpressed shoessecured to the ends of the stick having elongated rocker-shaped frictionengaging surfaces, substantially as described.

, 3. In a holding-fixture for spring-actuated shades, the combinationwith a shade, of spring-pressed shoes carried thereby having frictionengaging members of elongated rocker shape and antifriction membersabove and below the rocker-shaped members, substantially as described.

4. In a shade-holding fixture, the combination with the shade, ofspring-pressed friction devices carried by the shade located at theedges thereof, the same consisting of elongated shoes having elongatedconvex friction engaging surfaces between their ends and members of lessholding power at opposite ends of the friction-surface and means forsupporting the samev on the curtain.

5. In a holding-fixture for spring-actuated shades, the combination witha shade, of a stick secured thereto, a friction-shoe at the outer end ofthe stick, means for securing the same to the stick comprising a rodlocated in the end of the stick, a spring on the rod for forcing thesame outward, removable means at the end of the stick for limiting theoutward movement of the rod, and means on the rod with which thelimiting means engages.

6. In a holding-fixture for spring-actuated shades the combination witha shade, of spring-pressed shoes carried thereby having elongatedfriction engaging surfaces formed with outwardly-curved oppositeportions eX- tending from the center to the ends thereof.

7. In a holding-fixture for spring-actuated shades the combination witha hollow stick, of a friction-shoe at the end of the stick having astem, a rod in the stick having a threaded engagement with the stem, aspring on the rod and means fixed in the stick for limiting the outwardmovement and preventing the turning of the rod; substantially asdescribed.

8. In a holding-fixture for spring-actuated shades, the combination witha shade, of a stick secured thereto, a friction-shoe at the outer end ofthe stick, a rod within the stick having a threaded engagement with theshoe, a spring on the rod, an abutment within the stick through whichthe rod passes and means on the rod engaging the abutment for preventingthe turning of the rod, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a stick, of a springactuated rod therein, anoblong head at the end of the stick having an extension engaging thestick to prevent independent tilting, an oblong friction member in thehead and means for moving the friction-surfaceindependent of the head tovary the position of its engaging surface relative to the head.

lO. In a holding-fixture for spring-actuated shades, the combinationwith a shade, of spring-pressed shoes carried thereby having elongatedoppositely-inclined friction engaging surfaces, substantially asdescribed.

ll. In a shade-fixture the combination with a hollow stick, of afriction-head at the end of the stick, an adjustable connection betweenthe head and stick, an adjustable friction-block, and means foradjusting the block on the head.

l2. In a frictional shade-holding device, the combination with a stick,of a head at the end thereof, a friction-surface carried by the head,and means for adjusting the friction- 'surface on the head, and securingthe same in adjustable positions.

13. In a shade-holding device, the combination with a stick, of aspring-actuated rod therein, an oblong head at the end of the stick, anoblong friction member inthe head and means for moving the frictionmember independent of the head to vary the position of its engagingsurface relative to the head.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD T. BURRowEs.

Vitnesses:

H. W. ROBINSON, F. L. RICKER.

